18 SEVENTEEN
After playing two games in a row, the Seirin players wore tired expressions the next day. Kuroko and Kagami were in their classroom eating lunch and discussing their body pains when Riko turned up outside holding two boxes.
"Kuroko-kun, Kagami-kun, help me carry these boxes." She called from the door.
Kagami scowled in displeasure but still got up to help along with Kuroko.
"We're still sore from yesterday. Shouldn't Takumi be doing this?" Kagami complained.
"Takumi wasn't in the classroom when I went there. Besides, you can't expect a lady like me to do the hard work," Riko wore a smug expression.
"I don't see a lady any--"
A swift fist to the side of Kagami's torso silenced him before he could finish his sentence. That's when the trio heard laughter and turned around to see Takumi trailing behind them.
"Yo," Takumi greeted.
"Takumi you bastard."
"That's not how you greet someone Kagami-kun."
The red-head clicked his tongue and tried handing his box over to Takumi who backed away with arms raised.
"Hey now, since you're already carrying it, you might as well go the whole way. Think of it as part of training." Takumi grinned. "Besides, aren't you curious what's in those boxes?"
Kuroko and Kagami looked at the boxes in their hands and looked up questioningly.
"They're DVDs, of past matches," answered Riko. "Our opponent, Seiho, is a school we'll need to study thoroughly because of their unique style."
"Seiho...huh," Kuroko muttered.
The group reached the communications room where they placed the boxes of DVDs on the benches. Then, Riko left saying she had stuff to do but said the boys could watch one of the matches if they're curious.
Kagami looked through the box and picked out a random game of Seiho against another school. He placed the DVD in the player and Kuroko clicked on the remote to start it.
Takumi remembered this scene in the anime and took a seat next to the red-head to watch the match.
A quarter of the way in, Kagami already realised that something was off about the way this team played.
"Their movements, are a little weird." He said. 'Is this what coach was talking about when she said 'unique' style of play?'
"They've got a sturdy defence and good mobility," Kuroko added. "And that bald guy....I remember playing him from junior-high."
"Him?"
Kuroko nodded and his expression turned serious, "It was only a few minutes into the game but he managed to stop Kise."
Kagami's eyes widened while Takumi's remained passive. The latter already knew this so hearing it again was anti-climatic. Tsugawa was the baldy's name. He was a really annoying character from what he recalled and got a good beating by Seirin.
"That kind of player is a terrible match-up for a hothead like you, Tiger." Takumi smirked.
"Ha?!"
"Takumi-kun is right. That guy knows how to exploit weaknesses, especially when it comes to players with short tempers." Kuroko said.
"And you are the perfect match for him. With your impulsiveness, it'll be all too easy for baldy to foul you." Takumi said. "But, if you can keep your calm and assess the situation, it'll make it harder for him to take advantage of you."
Kagami was visibly pissed at the duo's comments but deep down, he understood that they were right. So in response and unwilling to acknowledge words, he just huffed and turned back to the screen.
------
The day arrived for the match against Seiho and Shutoku. Seirin took the bus to the stadium where they'd be playing and the boys faces were filled with a mixture nervousness and excitement. Kagami though, just looked fired up and ready for action.
Takumi glanced at the time on his watch and moved his attention outside the window. His mind replayed the talk he had with Riko before they got on the bus.
---Flashback---
The boys were at the school bus stand waiting for the bus to the stadium. Takumi was busy chatting with Furihata and Kawahara when the female coach pulled him aside.
"What's wrong Riko-chan?" Takumi asked with a smile.
"Did you remember to bring what I told you?" asked the girl ignoring his overly happy expression.
"Of course I did. I'm not that forgetful considering you rang me at four in the morning," Takumi deadpanned. Riko blushed recalling his husky voice when he picked up the phone. A finger poked her cheek and she looked up to see the boy staring at her with a knowing smirk.
"Ara, are you thinking something dirty Riko-chan?"
*Whack*
"Shut up!"
---End---
The bus arrived at the stadium and the team got off and headed straight to the main arena where they'd be playing.
After Riko signed in with the officials, they went to their assigned locker-room to change and through on white t-shirts over their jerseys.
Riko and Takumi were already seated on their bench with the latter organising their water bottles and towels on the side.
The stadium was in the process of building up so there weren't many people present in the stands. The arena held two separate courts and the one other than Seirin held Shutoku with their opponents who were warming up.
Hyuga and the rest returned and began their warm-ups while Kagami ended up in a staring match with Midorima across from them. Seeing this, Hyuga scowled and forcefully turned Kagami's head to their current opponents.
"What the hell are you staring at idiot? Your opponents are the other way!"
Kagami yelped and clutched his sore neck before glaring at his captain. Hyuga narrowed his eyes and put his hands on his hips.
"No matter how hard you stare, you won't be able to play them unless we beat Seiho."
With a click of the tongue, Kagami turned back to finish off his warm-ups not wanting to annoy his captain further. Seirin watched Seiho with their warm-ups and observed the players. Funny enough, none of their players were relatively big aside from their captain who was around Mitobe's height.
Riko told the team how Seiho's captain and another third-year player by the name of Kasuga were the core players of the team. Kasuga was the play-maker.
It was then when they heard a voice.
"Oh, you're Kagami Taiga right?"
It was the baldy, Tsugawa. Kagami's face morphed into a frown; "Ha?"
"Woah, your hair is really red isn't it? How scary!" Tsugawa rudely pointed.
Kagami's frown deepened.
Then the baldy turned back and waved out to his captain.
"Captain! This is the guy right? All of Seirin is weak but they have only one strong dude!"
*Crackle*
The first-years of Seirin backed away at the sight of their coach whose body seemed to be circulating with electricity.
"That shitty brat!" growled Riko. A large hand landed on her head and rubbed it.
"Calm down. He's just trying to rile us up," Takumi said but he too was slightly pissed off by this little insect.
The Seiho captain frowned before walking over and slapping the insect's head and pushing it down.
"Sorry about this guy, he can't hold his tongue." Iwamura, the captain, apologised.
"No need to apologise, we're going to win anyway." Hyuga responded. "Don't look down on us or you might end up in tears."
'Burn!' Takumi thought. 'Good job captain!'
Iwamura frowned slightly before turning away, "We never looked down on you. You were just weak, that's all."
And with that, he dragged the whining baldy back to their side of the court leaving Seirin with serious faces.
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Author's Note: Hello after a long time readers. Sorry for little updates but I have been quite busy in real life. Just wanted to let you know that I have another account on webnovel if you're interested where I write other random fanfics for no reason. It's name is; The_Luna_Wolf.
